Khurshid is not the first, and surely not the last to use the N-word. Indian political history is full of incidences where politicians have used the Hindi word ‘œnapunsak’ to describe the inefficiency and incompetency of their class.
Union minister Salman Khurshid has called Gujarat chief minister and Narendra Modi an ‘impotent’. Referring to the 2002 Gujarat riots, Khurshid said, “We don’t accuse you of killing people. Hamara aarop hai ki tum napunsak ho. (Our accusation is that you are impotent). You couldn’t stop the killers.”
And all the hell broke loose.
While there is no denying the fact that the statement is below the belt, to give it much wind is also not right. We all know Khurshid’s problem with his timing and statement. It was the same minister who had said that he will “analyse, discuss and absorb” the problem of Pakistan repeatedly violating the LoC peace agreement.
The Bhartiya Janata Party has slammed the minister for his crass remarks by saying that Khurshid is “debasing politics”. Party leader Shenawaz Hussain tweeted:
Is the language used by Sh Salman Khurshid a reflection of the so called guidance being given to Congress leaders by Sh Rahul Gandhi?
— Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) February 26, 2014
Filthy words used 4 political opponent, seems foreign education has taken away Indian values of ‘Tehzeeb’ & ‘Tameez’ frm Sh Salman Khurshid.
— Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) February 26, 2014
BJP sympathizer and Team Anna member Kiran Bedi too attacked Khurshid for his remarks. She tweeted:
(Uncivil/Uncouth language by leadership influences young minds!Must realise) @IndiaToday: Salman Khurshid calls Narendra Modi ‘impotent’!
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) February 26, 2014
It is to be noted that Khurshid is not the first, and surely not the last to use the N-word. Indian political history is full of incidences where politicians have used the Hindi word “napunsak” to describe the inefficiency and incompetency of their colleagues and class.
As political writer Sandip Roy writes in his article on an English website, “…VHP leader Ashok Singhal called the Vajpayee government “napunsak” for its failure to build a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The very colourful Sadhvi Rithambara has often called politicians napunsaks… Congress politician Suresh Kumar Routray told an Odisha rally that they should not trust Naveen Patnaik. “Naveen is neither a man nor woman. How can you trust somebody who is not even sure of his gender?”
Baba Ramdev called Manmohan Singh a “namard”. After Time Magazine called Singh an underachiever, Bal Thackeray helpfully re-translated it into “Thackeri bhasha” as “politically impotent.” During the heyday of the Anna Hazare anti-corruption march, Sanjay Kumar, a professor at St Stephens, spotted a placard that read “Sonia Gandhi Hinsak Hai, Rahul Gandhi Napunsak Hai.”
Subramanian Swamy had an entire exchange in the Lok Sabha in 1998 about whether the word “impotent” was parliamentary. He had used it in connection with the Vajpayee government and the Cauvery water dispute. When the Parliamentary Affairs minister protested, Swamy said he had meant in the “powerless” sense not the “Viagra sense”.”
Khurshid may have issued an explanation saying that he meant “politically impotent” by calling “napunsak” as Modi failed to stop Gujarat riots. But the fact remains that the words strips the masculinity of the subject in this testosterone-laden society of India.
It is an insult which was power-packed by Khurshid to remain in news with full potency. But will he use the same word for his party leaders who failed to stop many riots in its regime?
Twitter reactions to Khurshid’s jibe:
Salman Khursheed has known political impotence from youth. His father was in IndiraG cabinet & wasn’t it said she was the only man in it !
— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) February 26, 2014
Salman khurshid What wud you call IndiraG for the Nellie massacre 3000 of Assam 1983. Impotent or Virile? Come on tell us don’t be shy
— Twitanic(Anil Kohli) (@anilkohli54) February 26, 2014
Shinde wants to crush Rahul Gandhi wants to reach Jupiter Salman Khurshid calls Modi impotent Congress Party sounds like Marijuana Party
— Bhak Sala (@bhak_sala) February 26, 2014
Salman Khurshid asks, “If not impotent, what to call a person who can’t stop communal riots.” Answer is simple: “Rajiv Gandhi”
— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) February 26, 2014
Hey Salman Khurshid, NaMo doesn’t need to prove if he is potent or not. It’s RaGa whose performance will be judged in 2014 general erections
— Rofl Indian (@Roflindian) February 26, 2014
56 inch : Narendra Modi not even 5-6 inch : Salman Khurshid
— Faking News (@fakingnews) February 26, 2014
Salman Khurshid should be careful before calling people impotent. We remember his not-so-potent response to the US surveillance over India
— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) February 26, 2014
Dear Salman Khurshid, Forget Modi being Napunsak, better come clean on sexual orientation of Rahul Gandhi. Hope he’s aware that he is male
— Finger of India (@IndiaFinger) February 25, 2014
Dear Salman Khurshid.. You lost a teenage daughter to kidney ailment.. Dont invite more curses….#Impotent .. @ndtv @ibnlive @timesnow
— MediaCrooks (@mediacrooks) February 26, 2014
Filthy words used 4 political opponent, seems foreign education has taken away Indian values of ‘Tehzeeb’ & ‘Tameez’ frm Sh Salman Khurshid.
— Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) February 26, 2014
“@TheUnRealTimes: What happened after Salman Khurshid’s “Napunsak” remark.. (via @ajayendar) pic.twitter.com/pOaVTGw65Y“
— shahid siddiqui (@shahid_siddiqui) February 26, 2014
One from Sir Ravinder Jadeja too:
Dear Salman Khursid and Rahul Gandhi, This one’s for you. pic.twitter.com/TlpRDA2Dam
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 26, 2014